In Orlando, Josh Robbins profiled new Magic President of Basketball Operations JEFF WELTMAN, a basketball lifer who "nonetheless remains a mystery to fans." Weltman "likes it that way," as he is "uncomfortable in the spotlight and reluctant to draw attention to himself." Those who know him "portray Weltman as a down-to-earth, intensely loyal friend who effortlessly gets along with people from different backgrounds." They "describe him as low-key and modest" and "laud him for his smarts and his toughness" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/4).
ROAD TRIP: In Boston, Ben Volin profiled NFL VP/Wellness & Clinical Services DWIGHT HOLLIER, a post he has held the last four years. Hollier and the nine members of his department have been "traveling to all 32 teams this spring speaking with players" about the mental health and wellness services "available to them through the NFL, such as the NFL Life Line, a free and confidential 24/7 hotline." Hollier also has been a "crucial part of the NFL’s newfound emphasis on social responsibility in the wake of the RAY RICE situation" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/4).
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: As part of a season-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a number of the key execs involved in the ballpark’s construction gathered in Baltimore over the weekend for a dinner Friday night and the Red Sox-Orioles game on Saturday. Among those at the ballpark Saturday night where guests mingled across two suites were Camden Yards principals LARRY LUCCHINO, JANET MARIE SMITH, JOE SPEAR, ALAN RIFKIN, BOB AYLWARD, CALVIN HILL, members of the Maryland Stadium Authority and others (THE DAILY).
IF YOU BUILD IT: Former NBAer JERMAINE O'NEAL is "building a state-of-the-art training facility" at Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport to "help young people hone their athletic skills." The Drive Nation Sports training facility is "scheduled to open this fall." Drive Nation, costing around $11M, "will be a 93,000-square-foot facility with a 50-yard turf field, 10,000-square-foot weight room, six basketball and four 12 volleyball courts, a full-service kitchen and concessions, and performance training" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/5).
MAN OF THE YEAR? Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN is one of several "out-of-the-box names" getting "buzz in elite Democratic circles" to be considered to run for office in '20. Cuban "considers himself a smarter, better-looking and more authentic version" of PRESIDENT TRUMP. He has "coin, ambition and comfort in his own skin." Of "all the CEO/celebrities, he's the most likely to plunge into the shark tank of politics" (AXIOS.com, 6/4).
NAMES: Saints and Pelicans Owner TOM BENSON “hopes to bring the Dixie Beer brand home to New Orleans and is close to finalizing a deal to buy a majority stake in the company” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/3)....Rapper TRAVIS SCOTT released a music video for his song “WAY BACK,” which features Rockets G JAMES HARDEN as the “central focus of the first half of the video” (CHRON.com, 6/2)....Former NFLer PEYTON MANNING played golf with President Trump and U.S. Sen. BOB CORKER (R-Tenn.) yesterday at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va. (ESPN.com, 6/4)....Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI “had his head shaved” on Sunday as part of the One Mission Buzz Off at Gillette Stadium (ESPN.com, 6/4)....Astros Owner JIM CRANE married WHITNEY WHEELER over Memorial Day weekend at a venue he owns, the Floridian Golf Club in Palm City, Fla. Guests included Basketball HOFer CLYDE DREXLER and Astros GM JEFF LUHNOW (NYPOST.com, 6/3)....The Southern Nevada Sports HOF on Friday inducted late former NFLer OVERTON CURTIS, golf instructor BUTCH HARMON, boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR., IndyCar team Owner SAM SCHMIDT and the Las Vegas Bowl. The HOF now consists of 98 members (Southern Nevada Sports HOF).
